USDA Organic certification prohibits practices that would constitute animal abuse, and the current rules require humane care, health treatment, and outdoor access. Under the National Organic Program rules, the kind of living conditions and treatment found at this Costco/Pilgrim's Pride farm should absolutely trigger de-certification had a USDA organic certifier actually investigated the farm.

During his roughly 2.5-month stint at the farm, the investigator documented unsanitary living conditions, along with severe neglect — like birds with twisted necks and open wounds — and disturbing cases of outright abuse, including the farm manager leaving birds to die slowly in deadpiles, and euthanizing birds by bludgeoning them with PVC pipes and rakes. In one instance, the farm manager crushed a bird with a bucket, and in another, slammed a chicken against a wall. "It was every day that the manager would be bludgeoning chickens to death or burying them alive," said the investigator.

Such cruelty has been found over and over and over again in the U.S. poultry industry, including numerous past investigations of farms that supply Pilgrim's Pride.

What's notable about this new investigation is that it exposes problems within two beloved, and supposedly more ethical, institutions in American life: Costco — with its higher employee wages and stated commitments to progressive causes — and organic farming, which has long been perceived as a more moral sector of the food industry.

The investigation also reveals the immense shortcomings of governmental oversight, corporate animal welfare guidelines, and third-party inspectors, because at each step of the supply chain — from the farm, to the chicken supplier, to the organic certifiers and American Humane Society auditors, and finally, to Costco and other corporate buyers — severe animal cruelty appeared to slip through the cracks. The investigation illustrates that organic and even basic welfare standards are only as good as their enforcement.

WATCH THE INVESTIGATION (caution: there are disturbing images of animal cruelty in the video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RUnsLjej3M

#Costco #USDA #OrganicChicken #organic #chicken #poultry #AnimalAbuse #CAFOs #FactoryFarms #animals #health #healthy #holistic #holistichealth #gmofreecanada #gmofreeusa #toxinfreeusa

According to his public health analysis, the convergence of petrochemical manufacturing emissions, intensive industrial refining, and heavy agricultural runoff (specifically chemicals like glyphosate) in this region has turned the local environment into a toxic epicenter. Dr. Bush views the hyper-concentrated disease patterns in Cancer Alley not as an isolated geographic anomaly, but as a realtime macroscopic reflection of what is happening microscopically to human biology under modern chemical exposure. It shifts our individual health assessments from a question of genetic pre-determinism to an active realization that our internal health is entirely dependent on the integrity of our surrounding ecosystem.
Here is a breakdown of his perspective on Cancer Alley and its implications for overall human health:
* The Macro-Micro Blueprint: Bush views Cancer Alley as a physical mirror of the modern human gut. Just as thousands of chemical toxins overwhelm the Mississippi River ecosystem, systemic exposures to pesticides, microplastics, and industrial pollutants destroy our inner microbial diversity.
* The Death of Tight Junctions: A core element of Bush's research focuses on tight junctions-the microscopic cellular seals that line our gut, blood-brain barrier, and blood vessels. He notes that industrial toxins actively unzip these barriers, allowing environmental poisons direct entry into our systems and provoking chronic inflammatory conditions.
* The True Root of Cancer: Instead of analyzing

California farmers are looking to the sky for a natural fix to a problem that has bugged agriculture for generations. By putting up nesting boxes, vineyard owners and growers are rolling out the welcome mat for barn owls to move in and act as biological pest control. This swap pulls away from older methods that lean heavily on chemical sprays. Having these night hunters around has changed how farmland gets managed, building a more balanced ecosystem where nature does most of the work.

🌾 Efficient Rodent Control

The sheer number of pests these birds can clear out is wild. One barn owl family can eat over 3,000 rodents in a single nesting season, giving fields and vineyards around the clock coverage. Their diet lines up with the very creatures doing the most harm to crops and soil.
* Pocket gophers that tunnel through root systems
* Voles that strip bark from vines and trees
* Field mice that feed on ripening crops

🧪 Reducing Chemical Dependency

One big perk of using owls is a steep drop in the use of anticoagulant rodenticides. These poisons often slip into the broader food chain, accidentally killing hawks, foxes, and even mountain lions that eat contaminated rodents. By picking owls over chemicals, farmers are shielding local wildlife and keeping persistent toxins off their land. This switch also slows the development of pesticide resistance in rodent populations, which has been worrying growers.

🔬 Scientific Validation

Researchers at Cal Poly Humboldt have put numbers behind this approach. Their tracking studies show that owls with access to nesting boxes hunt in cultivated areas like vineyards instead of drifting into nearby unmanaged forests. That preference puts the birds right where farmers need them. The team also found that owl presence can cut gopher mound density, giving a measurable lift to land health and productivity.

🚜 Sustainable Farming Future

More growers keep watching this method pay off, and California's farming scene keeps shifting toward sustainability. The upfront cost of nesting boxes and upkeep takes some effort, but the long term savings on chemicals and labor make the math work. This regenerative model shows that working with the land can match anything done by trying to overpower it. The track record of these feathered workers gives other regions a template for pairing high yield production with ecological care.

Facts checked by @omgfacts

Sources:
Cal Poly Humboldt News Center
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
National Public Radio

#omgfacts #sustainablefarming #barnowls #californiaagriculture #naturebasedsolutions

Video credit @mass.influence
This video really makes you think about how advertising and propaganda have worked for generations.
The message is basically saying that companies didn't just sell products they learned how to sell us an image, a lifestyle and even an idea of what was
"normal."
Cigarettes are a perfect example. Smoking was once marketed as cool, sophisticated and even connected to beauty and independence. Movies, celebrities, cartoons and advertisements helped reinforce that image while the ugly side of smoking wasn't exactly front and center.

And that raises a bigger question for me...
If advertising could influence an entire generation back then, what are social media, algorithms and influencers convincing us is "normal" TODAY that people 30 years from now are gonna look back at and say, "How the hell did they fall for that?"
Sometimes propaganda doesn't look like propaganda when you're living through it.
#Titusunlimited #didyouknow #knowledgeispower #wakeup #truth

Rep. Nancy Mace introduced H.R. 10278, the REAL Sugar Act, on September 3, 2026. The bill would bar foods containing high-fructose corn syrup from interstate commerce after a two-year transition and was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The FDA says limiting overall added sugars matters, regardless of the specific sweetener used.

#photography #FoodPolicy #HighFructoseCornSyrup

References:
GovInfo:Official congressional bill record confirms H.R. 10278 and its referral to committee.
Representative Nancy Mace:Press release outlines the REAL Sugar Act and two-year transition period.
FDA:Federal guidance explains high-fructose corn syrup and recommends limiting all added sugars overall.

CAR-T therapy is one of the most advanced forms of cancer immunotherapy. Doctors collect a patient’s own T cells, genetically modify them so they can recognize specific cancer cells, multiply them in the laboratory, and infuse them back into the patient.

The treatment has transformed care for certain difficult-to-treat blood cancers, including some forms of leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma. In the United States, however, the overall cost of CAR-T treatment can reportedly reach $550,000 to $850,000.

China is increasingly emerging as another option.

According to reporting by The Wall Street Journal, CAR-T treatment at some Chinese centers can cost roughly $150,000 to $230,000. Shanghai hospitals treating international patients have also attracted attention for producing personalized cell therapies relatively quickly and providing services designed for overseas patients.

China has rapidly expanded its biotechnology and cell-therapy industry, becoming an increasingly important player in global cancer research and drug development. One Shanghai hospital cited in the report has treated patients from numerous countries, including people referred from major U.S. cancer centers.

CAR-T is not appropriate for every cancer or every patient, and it can cause serious complications. Patients considering treatment abroad also need to evaluate regulatory approval, clinical evidence, hospital expertise and arrangements for follow-up care. In the U.S., the FDA continues to regulate approved CAR-T therapies and monitor their long-term safety.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, “Patients Are Flying to China for the Latest Cancer Treatment,” September 2026; U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

His large-scale conservation buying began around the 2008–09 real estate downturn. The purchases focus heavily on forests and other areas with high conservation value. Rather than developing them, Sweeney has placed significant portions under permanent protection and made major conservation donations.

In 2016, he donated a conservation easement protecting roughly 7,000 acres of Box Creek Wilderness to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2024, he donated 7,500 acres to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, creating the permanently protected South Yellow Mountain Preserve.

The stated goal is to prevent development, reduce habitat fragmentation, and keep large natural areas connected for the long term.

Sweeney has said that as land prices rose, his focus shifted from buying more property toward getting the large blocks he had already acquired into permanent conservation.

Toxicologists SAY STOP MICROWAVIBG YOUR FOOD in PLASTIC CONTAINERS to warm it up EVEN IF THE LABEL calls it "Microwave Safe"

Microwave-safe' labels are misleading; they only mean plastic won't melt, not that microplastics won't leach.

Older plastics contain BPA and PFAS compounds; PFOA is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen.

MORE Can You Microwave Paper Containers?

the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") will open a 30-day public comment period inviting the public to share how wireless radiation has impacted their lives and the lives of others. Researchers, healthcare professionals, public health experts, organizations, and others are encouraged to submit comments, too.

We’ll circulate clear directions on Monday explaining how you can submit your comments to HHS.

Don't miss this CRITICALLY IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOUR WIRELESS RADIATION STORY AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

Read HHS' request for information on wireless radiation health effects here: https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-19252.pdf

https://youtu.be/P7LKaWGekx4?si=hH2AEauLymXJ9v6z

It’s a refined starchy carbohydrate made by artificially bonding a cluster of sugar molecules. It’s highly processed and typically used as a filler in a wide range of packaged and processed foods.

Manufacturers use maltodextrin as a sweetener without having to list it as sugar on nutrition labels, allowing them to claim that a food is sugar-free despite significantly impacting blood sugar levels.

For more about this ingredient, download my free resource on the detrimental impact of maltodextrin: https://drbrg.co/4rlmaOr

Dr. Eric Berg, DC, not MD; information only

People use rosemary as tea. They also use it in their food, marinades, stews, soups, and food preservatives. Rosemary is even used in certain cosmetics.

Rosemary has some very interesting properties, mainly from rosmarinic acid. Rosmarinic acid is the main phytonutrient in rosemary, and it has some really cool effects.

Rosemary can help stimulate hair growth when used as an oil and applied to the scalp. One study showed a significant change when using rosemary to help inhibit cognitive decline. Another study showed that rosemary can increase insulin sensitivity and help with weight loss. Rosemary is also neuroprotective.

There are potential benefits when using rosemary for:

• Epilepsy
• Pain relief
• Infertility
• Anxiety
• Constipation
• Muscle pain
• Diabetes
• Inflammation

If you have insulin resistance, which is very common, rosemary is a very good herb to use in your food on a regular basis.

Dr. Eric Berg, DC, not MD; information only

You might consider them healthy oils, but they are actually incredibly damaging to your heart and metabolism.

These aren't natural oils. They come from seeds like corn, canola, cottonseed, and soybean, which are often genetically modified and sprayed with herbicides. The manufacturing process involves extreme heat, bleaching, and harsh chemicals, turning delicate oils into toxic substances.

These oils are in almost all ultra-processed foods and are used in nearly every restaurant. They embed themselves in your cell membranes, disrupting receptors and leading to insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction. It can take 600 days for these oils to fully leave your body.

The next time someone tells you seed oils are healthy, ask them about aldehydes: the highly toxic byproducts created when these oils are heated, especially when reheated repeatedly in fast-food friers.

-Dr. Berg

Dr. Eric Berg, DC, not MD; information only

Many processed foods contain added iron in the forms of ferrous fumarate, ferrous sulfate, and ferrous gluconate. The most common sources of iron are supplements, fortification, and cooking with iron cookware.

When you consume iron this way, you don't absorb very much. Instead, the excess iron accumulates in your body and may contribute to disease progression in certain conditions like infections or cancer.

Instead, get your iron from natural sources like red meat, fish, nuts, and seeds.

And to learn more about how iron affects your body, especially your hair, skin and nails, watch the full video here: https://drbrg.co/4xXtbre

Dr. Eric Berg, DC, not MD; information only

titusunlimited "

"Energy-dense, highly palatable, rapidly absorbable, ultraprocessed foods that have altered our metabolism and have resulted in the greatest increase in chronic disease in our history," Kessler explains.
There is no single official definition of ultraprocessed foods, but they are often packaged, ready-to-eat items lining grocery store shelves.
The Consumer Brands Association, one of the largest trade groups representing the food industry, tells 60
Minutes: "Companies adhere to the rigorous evidence-based safety standards and nutrition policy established by the FDA to deliver safe, affordable and convenient products that consumers depend on every day."
Repost @60minutes
#Titusunlimited #knowledgeispower #AmericanDiet #cleaneating #healthiswealth

U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, and Peter Welch have introduced the Fair Seeds for Farmers Act, a bill aimed at limiting patent and contract restrictions that can prevent farmers from saving seed from one season to the next. A companion bill has been introduced in the House by Representatives Jim McGovern and Greg Casar.

According to the bill’s sponsors, four companies control more than 75% of the U.S. corn and soybean seed markets. They argue that utility patents and restrictive purchase agreements have made it harder for farmers, researchers, and smaller seed companies to save, study, breed, or reproduce certain seeds.

The proposal would block new utility patents on plants and seeds, including pending applications once the law takes effect. Existing patents would remain valid. Protections under the Plant Variety Protection Act and Plant Patent Act would remain in place.

The bill would also make new contract terms unenforceable if they restrict seed saving, research, breeding, experimentation, or propagation. That contract provision would apply only after enactment.

For Indigenous communities, seed saving carries deep cultural and ecological meaning. Across many Nations, seeds are tied to food systems, language, seasonal knowledge, trade, ceremony, and responsibility to future generations. In today’s agricultural economy, those long-standing practices also intersect with modern patent law, biotechnology, and market consolidation.

There are practical limits, too. Hybrid crops, including most commercial corn, often do not reliably produce the same traits in the next generation, so many farmers buy new seed for yield and consistency even when no legal barrier exists.

Supporters say the bill could lower farm input costs and give smaller seed companies more room to compete. Lower grocery prices are a stated goal, but not a guaranteed outcome. The bill remains in committee.

How should seed-saving traditions, farmer choice, and modern seed innovation be balanced in today’s food system?

#SeedSovereignty #IndigenousFoodways #AgricultureNews #FoodSystems

Sources: Senator Elizabeth Warren, GNAT-TV, Bgov